Pines Mayor Asks Fluoride Vote

PEMBROKE PINES -- Mayor Charles Flanagan, the leading opponent of a plan to fluoridate city water, says he will seek a binding referendum on the issue.

The controversial plan was defeated 4-1 last month by city commissioners.

``All I want to do is put it on a referendum and let the people vote on it,`` Flanagan said of Vice Mayor Ira Corliss` fluoridation plan, which commissioners defeated in January.

Although Flanagan has led opposition to fluoride, calling it ``mass medication,`` he lives in a section of the city, between Florida`s Turnpike, Pembroke Road, Southwest Ninth Street and Southwest 72nd Avenue, that receives fluoridated water from a Broward County well.

``It`s irrelevant,`` Flanagan said. ``I didn`t have a choice because I got it whether I wanted it. There`s probably a lot of people there who don`t want it.``

Corliss, however, said, ``It`s almost hypocritical to turn around and say, `I`ve got it and I don`t want you to have it.` ``

Corliss, who could not reintroduce the referendum measure himself because he was not on the prevailing side of last month`s vote, said he was glad to hear of Flanagan`s intention to revive the issue.

But Corliss said he also planned to ask commissioners to schedule a public hearing, if they support the referendum, to present the pros and cons of fluoridation to voters.

``It`s also the responsibility of the commission to educate the public,`` Corliss said. ``It`s a farce without the information.``

Commissioners will consider plans for both the referendum and public hearing on fluoride on Wednesday.

In January, commissioners defeated motions by Corliss to fluoridate city water, to conduct a non-binding straw vote on the issue and to schedule a public hearing for further debate on fluoridation.

In addition to Pembroke Pines, the only Broward County cities that do not fluoridate their water are Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach and Cooper City.

Flanagan`s motion for a referendum, if approved, could be on the ballot as early as May, if a School Board election is necessary, or during the next scheduled city election in March 1988.

Corliss said he would prefer to have a longer period before the referendum, to allow time for a series of public forums on fluoride, which experts say reduces the incidence of tooth decay.

``I need a year to educate the people,`` Corliss said.

He already has begun his efforts.

In addition to requesting a public hearing, he also has submitted a proclamation for consideration at the Wednesday meeting to declare February as National Children`s Dental Health Month, in conjunction with the American Dental Association.

Meanwhile, Flanagan said he hoped the referendum, if approved, would put the fluoride debate to rest.

Flanagan and a majority of commissioners voting against fluoridation last month said they thought a city program to reimburse residents for the costs of their fluoride prescriptions was adequate.

``I think we`ve got the ultimate solution,`` Flanagan said. ``If the people want it, the city pays for their prescriptions.``